Drug Education Class

[hautemomma]

Originally Posted by acomet

It's imperative this becomes a requirement for all high schoolers/college students. Binge drinking is out of control with the younger generation. A similar emphasis should be put into sex ed. The latest STD/teen pregnancy stats are staggering.

If you thought hangovers were bad, whoever thought of exploding bladders? Lucy Atkins on binge-drinking induced 'exploding bladders' | Society | The Guardian

[pingtheduck]

Just got an update about an Intervention in progress for some people we know. A huge amount of new information is available about brains, heredity, diet, and the ripple effect of drug use on the family and community. See you all at the Drug Education Class!

[Matthew]

Just a reminder that the drug education class is this Thursday. I hope to see you all there.

[Mama Mia]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Just a reminder that the drug education class is this Thursday. I hope to see you all there.

Thank you Matt for putting this class together....the speakers from SPD did a great job....I'm very disappointed to say there were only about 11 folks in attendance. Our Security Chief and Sgt were there and Danese from RMA. Thanks to all who attended but where were all the parents that would have gained some education from this class?? Is it easier to keep one's head in the sand and not address the fact that there are people in this community that are doing drugs? Or is the attitude if I attend then I will have to address the problem with my kids?? I don't know, maybe someone can tell me....

[akulasquirrel]

I think that people just don't realize the potential scope of the drug problem and just how common the sources of drugs can be. Another big problem is "huffing" of common, everyday substances. Even whipping cream in an aerosol can is a source for that and you can get it right in the supermarket.

[nana]

Mama, it is usually the parents of the "good" kids who attend in order to obtain the most up-to-date information they can. Sadly. . .I went up there right before 7 p.m. and saw Greg Remson, Jim Bieg, Danise Hetland from RMA, the presenters from SPD, Matt (thank you for pulling this together), and resident Betty Ferraro.
Because of my law enforcement background, I am pretty much familiar with drugs and their effect(s) on teens; however, I was not completely familiar with the most curently abused prescription med, Ozycontin, and received answers to the questions I had.
I hope this meeting was covered by the media.

[Martha]

Originally Posted by Mama Mia

Thank you Matt for putting this class together....the speakers from SPD did a great job....I'm very disappointed to say there were only about 11 folks in attendance. Our Security Chief and Sgt were there and Danese from RMA. Thanks to all who attended but where were all the parents that would have gained some education from this class?? Is it easier to keep one's head in the sand and not address the fact that there are people in this community that are doing drugs? Or is the attitude if I attend then I will have to address the problem with my kids?? I don't know, maybe someone can tell me....

I would have been there, but was tending to 175 kids that don't actually belong to me, but I call them "mine." I was doing my part to provide them an opportunity to be involved in sports. My husband was parenting ours. My head isn't in the sand, but I simply can't can't be in two places at once.

I would be interested in attending this at a future date, but would like the organizers to check my schedule first!

[feistylady]

okay Martha, you had a good excuse, what about the rest? Mama is right-on in my opinion, ignorance is bliss. The Detectives that took the time to come out here to address a big issue that we have out here, and 10 of us were there. So, when there is more vandalism, more theft, more stuff out here that has to do with drugs, please keep your gripes to yourself, cause you really could care less. Oh, Oh, wait, unless it happens TO YOU, or it is your kid that is doing it.

[Wilbur]

Catch-22. The parents who probably need the information most are probably in denial and don't recognize that they need the information.

Then there's the tongue-wagging factor. By attending does one admit to the gossips that you fear your kid has a drug problem? This might be something which some folks might be more inclined to attend if they felt more comfortable that they wouldn't see anybody there who knows them.

Perhaps you get a bigger and broader perspective audience if something like this is a feature in a broader event, like a guest speaker at a PTA meeting? You reach some of the "deniers" who wouldn't come to a drug-specific meeting, and the easily embarrassed aren't seen at a drug education meeting, they're just attending a PTA meeting. Just a thought.

[pingtheduck]

I'm so sorry I couldn't come to this. At the very least to lend my support. Just too many balls in the air and down one grown up. Maybe that's the case with lots of families.

Thanks for organizing this Matt and I'd like to help do this again. Maybe a PTA endorsed event for 4th grade up? There are lots of amazing inspirational speakers. An hour or so of parent/child prevention with good literature and resources might be less scary for people.